Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Svalbard
Digraph:
SV
Type:
territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo,
through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen;
by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Capital:
Longyearbyen
Independence:
none (territory of Norway)
National holiday:
NA
Legal system:
NA
Executive branch:
Chief of State:
King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)
Head of Government:
Governor Odd BLOMDAL (since NA); Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN
(since NA September 1993)
Member of:
none
Flag:
the flag of Norway is used
@Svalbard, Economy
Overview:
Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9
February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights
to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although
US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the
only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements
on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned
coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the
island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the
local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear,
fox, and walrus.
Budget:
revenues:
$13.3 million
expenditures:
$13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
21,000 kW
production:
45 million kWh
consumption per capita:
13,860 kWh (1992)
Currency:
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 7.4840 (January 1994), 7.0941
(1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989)
@Svalbard, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay
Airports:
total:
4
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
5 meteorological/radio stations; local telephone service; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV; satellite communication
with Norwegian mainland
@Svalbard, Defense Forces
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
@Swaziland, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
17,360 sq km
land area:
17,200 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total 535 km, Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Swaziland wants to reincorporate territory along the South African
border; Mbabane has asked South Africa to open negotiations on border
adjustments
Climate:
varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and
diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
67%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
limited access to safe drinking water presents human health risks;
wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
@Swaziland, People